The sun. [volume] (Morris, Stevens County, Minn.) 1882-1895, 1887-12-08


the people is, 1t seems to me, exceedingly
objectionable IN principle. as establishing
too close relationship between tho opera
lions OF the government treasury and the
business OF the country, and too extensive
commingling of their money. thus fostering
an unnatural reliance in private business
upon public funds II this scheme should
be adopted it should only be done as q tenn
porary expedient to meet an urgent neces-
slty. Legislative ana executive effort should
generally be in the opposite direction and
should have tendency to divorce, as much
and as fast as can Aafely be done. the treas
ury department from private enterprise.
OF course it is not expected that unnecessary
and extravagant appropriations will be made
for the purpose OF avoiding the accumulation
OF an excess Of revenue Such expenditure,
beside the decentralization Of all just con-
captions Of public duty which it entails,
stimulates q habit Of reckless improvidence
not in tho least consistent with the mission Of
our people or the high and beneticent pur-
poses Of our government have deemed 1t
my duty to thus bring to the knowledge of
my countrymen, as well as to tie attention
of their representatives charged with the re-
eponsibiliIies Of legislative relief, the gravity
OF our financial situation. The failure of con-
gress heretofore to provide against the dan
gers which 1t was quite evident the very ma
ture of the difficulty must necessarily pro-
duce, caused a condition of financial distress
and apprehension since your last adjourn
ment which taxed to the utmost all the au-
thority and expedients within executive con-
troll; and these appear now to be exhausted
II disaster results from the continued mac
tion of congress, the responsibility must rest
where it belongs Though the situation thus
far considered is fraught with danger which
should be fully realized, and though it pre-
sents features Of wrong to the people as well
as
PERIL TO THE COUNTRY,
it is but a result growing out of o per-
fectly palpable and apparent cause, con-
stanIly reproducing the same alarming cir
cumstances-a congested national treasury
and q depleted monetary condition in the
business of the country. 1t need hardly be
stated that while the present situation de-
mands remedy, We can only be saved from
q like predicament In the future by the re-
moval of its cause Our scheme of taxation,
by means of which this needless surplus is
taken from the people and put into the pub
lie treasury, consists of a tariff or duty levied
upon impOrtations from abroad and internal
revenue taxes levied upon the consumption
of tobacco and sprituous and malt liquors
1t must be conceded that none OF the things
subjected 10 internal revenue taxation are,
strictly speaking, necessary. There appears
to be no just complaint of this taxation by
the consumers of these articles, and there
seems to be nothing 80 well able to bear the
burden without hardship to any portion of
the people. But our present tariff laws, the
vicious, inequitable, and illogical source of
unnecessary taxation, ought to be at once
revised and amended These laws. as their
primary aud plain effect, raise the price to
consumers of all articles imported and sub
iect to duty, by precisely the sum paid for
such duties Thus the amount of the duty
measures the tax paid by those who purchase
for use these Imported articles Many OF
these things, however, areraised or manu-
featured in our country, and the duties now
levied upon foreign goods and products are
called production to these home manufact-
ures. because they render 1t possible for
those OF our people who are manufacturers
TO make these taxed articles and sell them
for price equal to that demanded for the
imported goods that have paid customs duty.
So it happens that while comparatively few
use the imported articles, millions of our
people, who never use and never saw any of
the imported products. purchase and use
things of the same kind made in this country
and pay therefor nearly or quite the same
charged price which the duty adds to the
imported articles Those who buy imports
pay the duty charged thereon into the pub
lie treasury, but the great majority of our
citizens who buy domestic articles Of the
same class pay sum at least approximately
equal to this duty to the home manufact-
urer. This reference 60 the operation OF our
tariff laws Is not made by way of instruc-
ton, but in order that we may be constantly
reminded Of the manner in which they
IMPOSE BURDEN
upon those who consume domestic products
as well as those who consume imported
articles, and thus create a tax upon all our
people. It is not proposed to entirely re-
lieve the country of this taxation. It must
be extensively continued as the source of
the governments income; and in a readiust-
ment of our tariff the interests of American
labor engaged in manufacture should be
carefully considered, as well as the preserva-
ton of our manufacturers. 1t may be called
protection, or by any other name, but relief
from the hardships and dangers of our pres
emit tariff laws should be devised with espe-
cial precaution against imperiling the exist
ence OF our manufacturing interests But
this existence should not mean q condition
which, without regard to the public welfare
or national exigency. must always insure
the realization of immense profits instead of
moderately profitable returns As the vol
ume and diversity of our national activities
increase, new recruits are added to those
who desire continuation Of the advantages
which they conceive the present system of
tariff taxation directly affords them. So
stnbbornly have all efforts to reform the
present condition been resisted by those of
our fellow citizens thus engaged, that they
can hardly complain Of the suspicion, enter
tanned to a certain extent, that there exists
an organized combination all along the
the midst of centennial celebrations, and
with becoming pride we rejoice in American
skill and ingenuity, in American energy
and enterprise, and in the wonderful
natural advantages and resources developed
by century's national growth. Yet when
an attempt is made to justify scheme
which permits tax to be laid upon every
consumer in the land for the benefit of our
manufacturers. quite beyond a reasonable
demand for governmental regard, it suits
the purposes of advocacy to call our manu-
features infant industries, still needing the
highest and greatest degree of favor and
fostering care that can be wrung from
federal LEGISLATION. 1t is also said that the
increase in the price of domestic manufact-
ure resulting from the present tariff is nee
essary in order that higher wages may be
paid to our workingmen employed in manu-
the pauper labor of Europe. All will &C
knowledge the force Of an argument which
involves the welfare and liberal compensa-
tion Of our laboring people. Our labor is
honorable in the eyes of every American
citizen AS it lays the foundation of our
Developments and progress, it is entitled,
without affectation OF hypocrisy, to the
utmost regard The standard of our labor
er's life should not be measured by that of
any other country lese favored, and
they are entitled to their full share
Of all our advantages By the last
1872. O99 of our population engaged in all
kinds of industries, 1904 are employed
in agriculture. 4,O74. 238 in professional
and personal service (2.944.S76 of whom
are domestic servants and laborers), while
1,81O,256 are employed in trade and trans
portation, and 8. 1897, IL are classed as en-
ployed in manufacturing and mining.
THE NUMBER TOO HIGH
For present purposes, however, the last
number given should be considerably re-
duced. Without attempting to enumerate
all, it will be conceded that there should be
deducted from these which it includes $780,
143 carpenters and joiners, 285. 4O1 mill1-
ners, dressmakers and seamstresses. 172, 726
blacksmiths. 1873, 756 tailors and tailoresses.
1O2.473 masons, 76, 241 butchers. 800
bakers 20, O83 plasterers and 4. S91 engaged
in manufacturing agricultural implements.
amounting in the aggregate to 1,214 .O23,
leaving 2,623,O persons employed in
such manufacturing industries as are
claimed to be benefited by q high tariff.
To these the appeal is made to save their
employment and maintain their wages by
resisting a change. There should be no dis
position to answer such suggestions by the
allegation that they are in minority among
those who labor, and therefore should fore
go an advantage, in the interest OF low